Edgar Steele Letter to John Debow
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No requestable containers
Content Description
Four page letter and corresponding envelope from a camp near Newport News, Virginia. Steele was a Private in Company "B" of the 85th New York Infantry. In his letter he describes his arduous journey to Alexandria, Virginia and then his voyage aboard a ship to Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He noted the the extensive burned ruins of Hampton and surrounding areas by the Rebel troops and described his picket duty along the Yorktown Road. Steele noted the proximity of the vast numbers of Rebel troops near his encampment. He also made mention of seeing a glimpse of the Monitor in the harbor and the Rebel Merrimac. Included with the letter is a picture of Edgar Steele, probably taken while training in New York. An advertisement is printed on the reverse of the picture for Charles H. Skies, General Traveling Agent for the Weed Sewing Machine Company, based out of Hartford, Connecticut with a branch in Elmira, New York.
Dates
- Creation: April 13, 1862
Creator
- Steele, Edgar (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Conditions Governing Use
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Biographical / Historical
Edgar Steele was born about 1842 in New York. On Septembet 30, 1861 he enlisted in the Union Army in East Bloomfield, New York at the age of 19. On October 7, 1861 he was mustered into Company "D" of the New York 85th Infantry. On January 1, 1862 he transferred from Company "D" to Comapny "B" of the same regiment. He was killed at the Battle of Far Oaks, Virginia on May 31, 1862.
Extent
0.01 Linear Feet
Language
English
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository